loans Archives - The Personal Finance Guide

First-Time Homebuyers: 13 Steps To Buying A House For The First Time + 7 Valuable Lessons I Learned About Buying Your First House

Buying your first house is challenging, yet rewarding and well worth the effort! I just bought my very first house, and I’ve got some helpful tips for first time homebuyers. Here are the steps to buying a house for the first time, plus some valuable lessons that I learned firsthand.

5 Reasons To Avoid A Payday Loan + 7 Less Expensive Ways To Get A Cash Advance

A payday loan is a short-term high-interest loan. Fees are high if you don’t repay the loan on the day of your next paycheck.7 better ways to get cash fast.

How To Get A Student Loan When You Have Bad Credit

Bad credit student loans aren’t that difficult to come by. Here’s everything you need to know about the ways to get a student loan when your credit isn’t the best.

What If You Paid For Everything In Cash?…

Common sense tells us that it’s cheaper to pay in cash than with credit cards and loans. But just how much cheaper is a cash payment? Here are some interesting facts to get you thinking about using cash whenever possible with some helpful tips thrown in about credit calculators and some fun cash trivia.

How Your Debt-To-Credit Ratio Affects Your FICO Score & Home Buying Potential

All about your debt to credit limit ratio — what it means, all the ways your FICO score could affect you, and how to improve your debt to credit limit ratio and your FICO score. Plus, how to tell if you’ve got TOO much debt!

Cheap Mortgages: Unique Ways To Save Money On Your Home Mortgage

These days, your best financial move is to find your own creative ways to save money on the home mortgage. In effect, cheap mortgages are easier to come by than you might think. You just need to do a few things differently.

How Con Artists Use Your Dream Home To Commit Mortgage Fraud

If you think you’re too smart to be a victim of mortgage fraud, think again! Con artists are out there and they are very good. They know how to find your weakness and convince you that they are your savior. This video explains in depth how they do it.

What To Do When A Spouse Dies: How To Get A Handle On Your Finances

When your spouse dies, what in the world are you supposed to do next? How do you keep your head above water — financially — in addition to keeping it all together emotionally? Here are some tips for getting your financial things in order, so things will go more smoothly regarding money and paperwork after the loss of your spouse.

What Happens To Your Mortgage (Or Your Car) If You Die?

If you die, will the bank be willing to do business with your spouse? Will he or she have to move? Will the bank foreclose on your home? These are things you need to consider when purchasing a new home. The fact of the matter is, you should consider purchasing life insurance to protect your mortgage. Here’s why…

Reasons To Pay Off Your Home Loan

I completely agree with Suze Orman when she says it’s better to pay off your home loan early. Here’s why…

Are Title Loans and Pawn Shops Worth It When You Need Fast Cash?

Title Loans and Pawn Shops… there are other ways to get money fast, you know!

Buying A New Home?… Is Your Realtor Steering You Wrong?

Are you REALLY ready to buy a new home? Are you buying more house than you can actually afford? Are your friends and Realtor trying to convince you to buy more than you need? Don’t dig yourself into a hole… Here are a few things to think about before you sign on the dotted line.

Qualifying For A Home Loan (…Using Just One Income)

For a couple purchasing a house, it might be a better idea to use only one person’s income to qualify for your home loan. By using only one person’s income on your home loan, you are guaranteeing that you are not purchasing a house that you will not be able to afford should you find that one person is unable to work for any period of time. But wait, there’s more!

Too Much Stuff & Knowing When to Let It Go

if you just can’t afford all of your expenses, the best thing you can do for yourself is to let something go — which can mean downsizing your home, moving into an apartment, or giving up a car. The result of letting go is a better relationship between your debts and your income. You’ll find a comfort zone that you can live with — day in and day out.

What About The People Paying Their Loans On Time? Good News: There’s Help For You, Too!

If you have managed to keep your credit rating in good standing during this time of home foreclosures, and made all of your payments on time, there are ways that you can get a bit of financial relief, too. You don’t have to be in over your head to get good deals on a home loan.

Behind On Your Mortgage? Six Mortgage Lenders Are Participating In Project Lifelife

Is your mortgage with Bank of America, Citigroup, Countrywide, J.P Morgan Chase and Co, Washington Mutual, or Wells Fargo? If so, then Project Lifeline can help you with your past-due mortgage. If not, then read on, there’s help to keep you from losing your house.

10 Ways To Take Better Care Of Your Finances This Year

If taking better care of your hard-earned money is one of your New Years resolutions, I’ve listed 10 ways to help accomplish it. Getting a hold of your personal finances will not only help save money, but it will help control debt and plan for the future.

How To Get A College Scholarship

College tuition is increasing every year. In order to pay for a college education for your child, you probably should start savings when they are very young. However, an option to help the burden is college scholarships. There are loads of free money out there to mitigate the cost, its only a matter of finding them. This article gives a few tips to completing that process.

How To Consolidate Your Student Loans

Student loan consolidation can be very cost-effective as long you know what to look for in a lender. This article discusses the benefits of consolidating your student loans and the best way to go about finding a lender.

How A Federal Perkins Loan Works

The federal Perkins loan provides a way for those in financial need to pay for college. This type of student loan has a low flat interest rate and a long grace period.

What You Need To Know Before You Get A Stafford Loan

Stafford federal loans are a great source for student loans. While subsidized Stafford loans are only available based on financial need, unsubsidized loans are available to all eligible students. I’ve outlines the application process as well as current interest rates and loan limits.